God Can Say No

Matthew20:29
The mother of the sons of Zebedee asks Jesus to grant that her sons may sit one at his right and one at his left in his kingdom. Jesus says “You do not know what you are asking … Places in the Kingdom are not mine to give. They belong to those for whom they have been reserved by my father.” The sons of Zebedee do not get what they want. They are only promised suffering, which they accept for Jesus’ sake.
God does not grant all of our prayers, no matter how earnestly and long we pray. he knows what we need and what would hurt us. When he does grant prayers it may be something related but unexpected. Let us continue to pray with trust in him.